Sensa-SHAAN!

The thinking Indian audience is in for a foul surprise when the producers of a very popular TV show decide to ‘eliminate’ the sensibilities of the viewers. One man, the host of the show, stands up and blows the whistle on this scathing attack on logic…

By Aravind Ramachandran
http://entertainment.in.msn.com/bollywood/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3071214



Shantanu Mukherjee was born into a family of musicians, but the transformation into the sassy avatar of Shaan (as we know him today) took some time coming. The beginning was promising. To mark debut as playback singer at 15 is always commendable, even if you had only six words on your lyric pad: “Kitni Hai Pyari Pyari Dosti Hamari” (Parinda, 1989). Along with sister Sagarika, Shaan trained his focus on singing ad jingles.

‘Q-funk’, a very bold attempt in the realm of remixes, catapulted the Mukherjees to new levels of fame. The year was 1995. The ‘sibling package’ was reportedly inspired by the Pakistani duo of Nazia and Shoeb Hassan. The ever-smiling ‘Shaan and Sagarika’ were noticed for their ebullient renditions. However, individual appreciation still remained a mirage.

It took about half a decade more for the first Shaan solo album to hit the charts. With ‘Tanha Dil’, Shaan logged in to the fav list of the Indian music buff. ‘Tanha Dil’ fetched him the Best Solo Album award at the MTV Asia Music Awards. ‘Aksar’ followed three years later. Shaan was now lyricist, music director and of course, singer.

A blink later, India succumbed to the reality show syndrome. Shaan was quick to hop on to the bandwagon, as host for the popular show, ‘Voice of India’. His considerable fan following and charm ensured a riveted audience. But at some point, in the mad rush for TRPs, logic became the martyr.

It was unheard of. While audience was being given absolute power to choose their own idols, the judges were given a snub. When each contestant opened their envelopes and announced the names of the judge to be eliminated, the lines of reason were crossed. Insulted, the judges walked out of the show.

Shaan, the host of the show, cried foul.

“I am merely a host, but I know my music and I have tremendous respect for our jury members. They are veterans in the industry. How can the audience poll decide who to stay in and out?” he asked. Well articulated words that dared to question the very base on which the edifice of Indian reality TV is built. The lines dividing talent and popularity badly needed a firmer demarcation and that too from a neutral corner.

With a thankful tap on the shoulders of Shaan, the saviour of sensibility, we knight him Aaj Ka Fankaar.

Source: India Syndicate